The Giordano Collection: Une Vision Muséale Part I
The Giordano Collection: Une Vision Muséale Part I
An important monumental Doccia porcelain gilt-bronze mounted table-clock, surmounted with the Ginori coat-of-arms, commissioned by Lorenzo Ginori, circa 1777-1778
Estimate
350,000 - 500,000 EUR
Lot Details
Description
Of tall rectangular section and formed of sectional panels, the model possibly by Giuseppe Ettel (1747-1804), after a design by Giuseppe del Moro (1719-1781), the domed cover formed of gilt-edged reticulated blue lattice reserving flowerheads, surmounted with a figure representing Time holding a gilt-metal scythe, the entablature modelled with stiff leaf and egg and dart bands, affixed with a painted shield cartouche of the Ginori family coat-of-arms with supports of putti holding trumpets, flanked by affixed finials of masked vases of flowers, the canted corners formed of corbels supporting further figures, each side with two hinged reticulated doors, the front panels moulded in low relief with six putti playing musical instruments, above a Vitruvian scroll border and stepped ribbon-tied wreath below, supported at the front by porcelain pink double paw feet, the rear with single paw feet.
Clock movement:
12¾-inch enamel dial with central alarm disc and regulation aperture below XII, on a foliate and floral engraved gilt-brass waisted dial plate with strike/not strike and tune control (Autre/Meme) levers, the three train clock movement with spring barrels, verge escapement with silk suspension, trip repeat grande sonnerie striking the hours and quarters on three bells, the cadrature mounted on the backplate, pull-wound alarm, the backplate signed and numbered J Robert Et Fils Et Compagnie, A La Chaux de Fonds, 2704, the separate and substantial organ motor with dual chain fusees and vertical fly, crank drive to the organ bellows and a vertical rod drive to the wooden barrel pinned for eight airs played on seventeen pipes, triggered by the clock movement on the hour or at will
Height. 47 /14 in; width. 27 1/4 in, depth. 14 1/4 in; Haut. 120 cm, larg. 69 cm, prof. 36 cm
Commissioned in 1777 by Marquis Lorenzo Ginori (1734-1791), son of Carlo Andrea Ginori (1702–1757), founder of the Doccia porcelain factory;
and thence by descent through the Ginori family;
Acquired by antiquarian Stefano Bardini (1836–1922), by repute directly from the Ginori family circa 1898;
Offered, Christie's London, The Property of Signor Stefano Bardini of Florence, 27 May, 1902, lot 501;
The American Art Galleries New York, The Property of Signor Stefano Bardini, 23-27 April, 1918, lot 252;
The Very Valuable Antique Art Property of The Cattadori Italian Art Galleries, The American Art Galleries, New York, 13-16 April, 1921, lot 610 (for $725);
Acquired from the above sale, through French & Co., Inc., New York City, by William Randolph Hearst Sr (1863-1951), 20 June, 1921 (for $837.37);
Sold by the above to Le Passe Gallery, New York, 25 October, 1940;
Carlton Hobbs LLC, New York.
S. Bardini, Catalogue des objets d' art, antiques du Moyen Âge et de la Renaissance, 1902, p. 83, cat. no. 522, pl. 27.
L. Ginori Lisci, La Porcellana di Doccia, Milan, 1963, p. 144, cited.
F-M. Bacci, Ritratti di Imperatori e profili all'antica, Scultura del Quattrocento nel Museo Stefano Bardini, Florance, 2012, p. 137, fig. 92.
R. Balleri et. Al., Fragili Tesori Dei Principi, Le vie della porcellana tra Vienna e Firenze, exh. cat., 2018, pp. 376-379, cat. no. 107.
A. d’Agliano and Simone Caliri (ed.), Porcelain Scent Bottles, Giordano Art Collections, Turin, 2020, pp. 142-143 figs. 1-2.
R. Balleri, ‘Orologio monumentale da tavolo / A monumental table clock’, Amici di Doccia, Quaderni, no. XIII, 2020, pp. 180-82, fig. 2.
A. d’Agliano, ‘Il collezionismo della porcellana di Doccia degli ultimi cinquant’anni. Alcune considerazioni’, Amici di Doccia, Quaderni, no. XVI, 2023, p. 16, fig. 6.
Florence, Uffizi Galleries, Fragili Tesori dei Principi, 13 November 2018 – 10 March 2019